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An application is represented as a definition type within the Agentry application project. Each project can have only one application definition.

Within the application project structure, the application-level definitions are at the top of the hierarchy, and affect the application as a whole. The child definitions affect communications behavior, and provide global constant values that are used for configuration and other purposes. The definitions also include data storage on the client, in the form of tables and records that are accessible to the entire application, and definitions that affect the user interface appearance. The child definitions are referred to as the application-level definitions. Regardless of functionality, most of the application-level definitions are used in a given application.

The structure of application-level definitions within an application project is shown below. The figure includes all child definitions, with the exception of the module. Modules are a robust definition type that are discussed in a separate topic.

The child definitions to data tables and complex tables related to synchronization are dependent on the type of system connection. Synchronization logic is encapsulated in the language or methodology that matches the back-end system type.

The system connections of type HTTP-XML include child definitions that are related to user validation. The user validation request is sent according to these definitions, including arguments to that request. Responses from the request are mapped to the mobile application data components.

In general, when you are working within the Agentry Editor to either develop or modify an application, the application-level definitions dictate and control overall aspects of the application behavior, rather than within a given module or lower-level of granularity.


In this section:
    Application Definition
    When a new application project is created in Agentry Editor, an application definition is automatically created, with attributes set to defaults.
    Module
    The module definition is a grouping of definitions providing functionality that logically belongs together. The module’s attributes and child definitions define the majority of the behavior and functionality exhibited on the Agentry Client at runtime.
    Data Table
    A data table definition defines a set of records stored on the Client. Each record consists of two fields containing a key and value. A data table is intended to contain a small number of records (less than 100) that may be displayed to users in drop-down lists and other uses. A data table is defined at the application level and is available to all modules of the application. Its structure also defines how its data is synchronized.
    Complex Table
    The complex table definition defines a table of records containing multiple fields stored on the Agentry Client in a structured and searchable format. A complex table can contain large amounts of data with records numbering in the thousands. Included in the complex table are the fields for its records and indexes on fields to provide search functionality and structure to the overall data in the table. The complex table definition also defines how its data is synchronized.
    Transmit Configuration
    The transmit configuration defines how the application on an Agentry application communicates with the server. It can define what application-level data definitions to synchronize, whether to log out a user from the server when a transmit has completed, or to keep the connection to provide real-time communications functionality.
    System Connection
    A system connection sets the connection type that SAP Mobile Platform Server uses to synchronize data with a back-end system. A system connection specifies what type of system the server is communicating with: SQL Database, Java Virtual Machine, HTTP-XML Server, or File System.
    Global
    A global definition defines a constant value, including data type, for the application. This value can be referenced throughout the application, both by the attributes of other definition types and for use in synchronization components. A global value cannot be changed on the Client at run-time but can be overridden during synchronization.
    Style
    A style definition defines a set of style elements that can be applied to the Agentry Client user interface to affect its appearance. These elements include text and background colors, font face and size, borders, and other similar UI items. A style may be defined for all supported application platforms or for a single platform.
    Image
    An image definition incorporates an image file into the application data. This image can be displayed on various components of the Agentry Client user interface. An image can be used to add icons and interactive graphics to the UI for branding purposes and to enhance the user experience.

Parent topic: Agentry Language Reference